Surface rod line jack



y 1943' w. J. JONES 2,318,494

SURFACE ROD LINE JACK Filed Feb. 15, 1942 Patented May 4, 1943 VIUNITEDSTATES Pram OFFICE paratus and particularly to an improved surface rodline jack for providing a connection between the power source and thepumping mechanism.

. ;An object of the invention is to provide a rod.

line jack'which is safe and easy to operate and which at the same timeis of relatively simple, yet rugged construction.

Another object is to provide a rod line jack which may be made in partof stock material readily available in the field.

A further object is to provide a rod line jack embodying a minimumnumber of parts which may be easily assembled and disassembled.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent inview' of the following description taken inconjunction with the drawing,wherein:

g Fig. l is a view in section and elevation of the rod. line jack inaccordance with the invention; and v Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.Referring to the drawing in detail, the improved surface rod line jackcomprises a draw bar l formed with a series of ratchet teeth Hoperatively mounted. The bar I0 is preferably rectangular incross-section and freely engages a longitudinal rectangular opening inthe head {3, to assure the alignment of the bar H) in operation. Thelower end of latch .15 is formed with ajpawllfi and the upper end of thelatch is 5 preferably of substantial length and provided with anenlargement defining a weight I5". The latch is rotatably mounted on abearing bolt H3 which is projected through the latch head and remcvablysecured in place as by means of a cotter key 15. To limit the rearwardmovement of the latch l5. a'stop l! is projected through the rearextremity of the latch head and also provides a rest for the latch l5when the latter is in idle position. A look member in the form of a keybolt ll" is slidably projected through the upper portion of the latchhead 13 and serves to lock the latch when desired.

The power end of the coupling tube or pipe 52 ispivotally connected to amember I B mounted on a driving eccentric or l9 actuated from the mainpower source. The tube or pipe l2 may be of any length necessary and isshown provided with a coupling member 2% for connecting adjacent.ends-of pipe sections.

.wells in the area.

The coupling tube I2 is supported by a post 2| having on upper endthereof a slide bearing 22. The draw bar H) projects through the upperextremity of a supporting post 23, and'removably secured to this latterpost is a stationary latch block or head 24 having mounted therein astationary latch 25 provided'at its lower end with a pawl 25' and at itsupper end with a weight 25". The latch 25 is pivotally mounted on aremovable pivot or bearing bolt 26 which may be removably held in placeby a cotter key 26' or the like. A look bolt 21 is slidably mounted inone side of the head 24 and may be used to lock the latch 25 back out ofoperative position when desired. Like the latch l5, the handle portionof latch 25 projects well upwardly for easy access without danger of thehands or fingers be;- coming engaged by pawl 25'. 1

The extreme outer end of the draw bar-is shown connected to a rod line28 by means ofa clamp 29, the rod line being connected to pumpactuatingmechanism generally indicated at 30 and which may be of any suitabletype.

In operation, the draw bar ,IU travels with the coupling pipe l2 duringthe normal stroke. When the well is hung up for any particular reason,

the couplingpipe l2, latch head 13 and latch travel over the drawbanassuming the power source is still in operation and pumping otherWhenit, is desired :to take up slack in, the rod line connections, boththe stationary latch and traveling latch l5 are engaged with the teethof the draw bar ID, the latch l5 sliding over the ratchet teethof thedraw bar on the return stroke of the tube 12 and engaging said teeth onthe pull stroke, while the stationary latch preventsreturn-movement ofthe draw bar. If for some reason the slack is tobe let out, or theconnections are tobe lengthened, the stationary latch is disengageduntil the stroke is almost out, whereupon the stationary latch isengagedand the traveling latch released until almost the limit of the pullstroke is reached, whereupon it is engaged and the sta ticnary latchdisengaged, and this process repeated until the tension is relieved fromthe rod line, whereupon both latches are disengaged and the draw baris-free andcan'be pulled out as blevformanipulation, while the lower orpawl extremities. thereof are completely shielded against accidental.contact with the .fingers' or hands of an operator. Also the couplingpipe l2 completely shields the draw bar from the traveling latchrearwardly to the power connection. These are important features from asafety standpoint, since accidents ofttimes result inmanipulatingisurface rod line jacks where the parts are exposed.

Simplicity of construction is another important factoras is also ease inoperation. In this respect the one-piece latches l5 and25-play animportant part. The power coupling l2,maybe made from stock available inthe field and thus may be readily lengthened, repaired or replaced.

It will be understood that minor changes in construction and design maybe made in my improved rod line jack without departing fromthe vspiritor scope of the invention as defined by .the appended claims.

What-is claimed is:

'1. in a surfacerod line jack, a draw'ba-r pro.- .vided with ,a seriesof ratchet teeth alonga surfacethereof, the .outer. endof said draw'barbeing adapted :for connection with .a rod line-and the inner.extremity of said bar projectim free, an

elongated 'tubularcoupling member connecting the draw "bar to a power:source, said tubular .coupling member enclosing a substantial portionof :the drawbar and having .a hollow latch head mountedon theinner endthereof, a trav.- .eling latch pivotallyqmounted in said latch head andprovided with a :pawl adapted for engagement with the teeth .of'the drawbar when the coupling member is .given a power stroke, a support for therod "line, another latch head ,secured to said support, a stationarylatchpivotallymounted insaid'latter latch head and provided with apawladapted to cooperate with said traveling latch under certainoperating conditions, said latch heads having upwardly projectingportions shielding said pawls and adjacent lower portions of thelatches.

-2. Ina surface rod line jack, .a draw bar provided with a series ofratchet teeth along a surface thereof, the outer end of said draw barbe- :ing connected to a rod line and the inner ex- :tremity of said barprojecting free, an elongated coupling tube telescoped over the free.extremity of the draw bar, a hollow latch head connected to the innerendof the tube and having upwardly projecting side portions providing ahousing opening of material depth, a traveling latch having a pawlformed on its lower end disposed in said opening and pivotally connectedto said latch head, said pawl being adapted to engage said teeth when apower stroke is applied to said coupling member, the pawl and lowerportion of the 'latch being completely shielded by said latch head, anupright support through which said draw bar has movement, a latch headsecured to said support and also having upwardly projecting housingportions on opposite sides of said .draw bar, and a stationary latchhaving a pawl formed ,on its lower end adapted to engage the teeth ofthe draw bar to cooperate with said traveling'latch under certainoperating conditions, the pawl and adjacent lower portion of thestationary latch being also shielded by the said housing portions.

3. Ina surface rod line jack, a draw bar provided with a series .ofratchet teeth along a surface thereof, the outer. end .of said drawbarbeing connected to a rod line and the inner extremity of the draw barprojecting free, a coupling member telescoped .over the free extremityof said draw bar, the outer .end .of said coupling member beingconnected to a power source, a latch head connected to the inner end ofsaid coupling member and having upwardly projecting housing portions onopposite sides of the draw bar, a traveling latch 'pivotally mounted insaid latch head and having a pawl on its lower end adapted to engage theteeth of the draw bar when a power stroke is applied to the couplingmember, said pawl and latch being of rigid construction and having ahandle portion projecting upwardly a material distance over the latchhead, means for limiting the throw-out movement of said latch, and alock member mounted in one of the upwardly projecting side portions ofsaid latch head and adapted to engage and hold the latch in throw-outposition.

--4. 'In a surface rod line -jack, -a draw bar providedwith a series ofratchet teeth along a surface thereof, the outer end of said draw barbeing connected to a rod line and the inner extremity of said .draw barprojecting free, a coupling member telescoped over-the free extremity ofthe draw bar and a latch'headconnected to the inner end of said couplingmember, upright supports one through which said draw bar has movementand another providing a slidable bearing for saidcoupling member, astationary latch head secured to said first-named support, both of saidlatch heads being provided with housing portions which project upwardlyon opposite sides of the draw bar, a rigid one-piece trave'ling latchmounted in said first-named latch head and a similar latch mounted insaid secondnamed latch head, each of said latches being provided witha-pawl at its lower end adapted to engage the teeth of the draw barunder certain operating conditions, a stop for each of said latches forlimiting the throw-out movement thereof, and lock pins slidably mountedin said housing portions and adapted to be projected into the path ofthe movement of the latches and lock the same in throw-out position.

5. In a surface rod line jack, a draw bar provided with a series ofratchet teeth along the top surface thereof, the outer end of said drawbar being connected to a rod line and the inner extremity of said drawbar projectingfree, a hollow coupling member slidably telescoped overthe free extremity of the draw bar, a latch head connected to the innerend of said coupling member, a pair of upright supports, one having anopening through which said draw bar has movement and the other of whichprovides a slidable bearing for said coupling member, a,stationaryjlatch head secured to said first-named support in subtan a lhor zo ta a ignment with said openn bo h o said latch heads being r de thousing portions which project upwardly on 'opposite sides of said drawbar, a rigid one-piece traveling latch mounted in said first-named latchhead and a similar latch mounted in said second-named latch head,,eachof said latches being provided with a pawl at its lower end adapted toengage the teeth of the draw bar under certain operating conditions anda counter weighted handle portion projecting upwardly beyond the housingprovided by its coacting latch head, a stop for each of said latches forlimiting the throw-out movement thereof, and lock pins slidably mountedin said housing portions and adapted to be projected into the path ofmovement of th latches and lock the samein throwout position.

WILLIAM J. JONES.

